Mar 24, 2025
The JoJoLands, Part 9 of JoJo's, tells the story of Jodio, a 15-year-old boy who dreams of becoming rich in the tropical islands. This part has only 24 chapters so far, and I’m going to share my thoughts on it.
So far, it has the best start to a JoJo’s arc that I’ve ever seen. This is because, unlike JoJolion, the series takes a concept (volcanic lava) and squeezes it to the fullest without getting lost in other things. Also, unlike other arcs like Diamond is Unbreakable and Stardust Crusaders, this part constantly changes its status quo, the battles are extremely dangerous, and after each confrontation,
...
the plot moves forward without unnecessary detours.
An example of this is the cat arc, where defeating them provides more information on how volcanic lava works, they experiment with its use, and little by little, as characters like Charmingman are introduced, they continue contributing to the plot. And thank God, the part has not yet become oversaturated with subplots.
It’s also not a plot bait like Steel Ball Run. This part maintains its style, essence, and main objective while the actions and threads move naturally (in this case, through Maryl Mei Qi's orders, which are followed by the cast, their own motivations, the appearance of volcanic lava as an external object, and now, Howler himself in an effort to protect his business).
Howler is an interesting villain because he is impulsive, egocentric, and immature. He is not a “serious, analytical villain who thinks a lot before acting” like the typical villain written by Araki. Instead, his own immature behavior makes him dangerous due to the power he wields. The fact that he is already in trouble at the very beginning makes his actions, impulsivity, and fear feel weighty, setting him apart from villains like Diavolo or Tooru, who had a much safer path, hiding until they were eventually defeated, suffering nothing until the final arcs.
The themes could be handled better, though. Araki doesn’t give us much insight into each main character beyond a few flashbacks hinting at themes he never fully explores. For example, Dragona and the bullying he suffered due to his own alienation at school—this doesn’t seem to have any impact on his present. It’s as if Araki always wants to use the same trick of telling us that a character is deep just because they suffered in the past.
Or take Jodio and his obsession with mechanisms or absurdity. Will this actually make sense, or is it just a philosophy that won’t be truly explored? What about Paco’s past from the latest chapter Araki released? What is he trying to tell us by revealing that Paco was abused but still loved his father? Does this have any connection or impact on what’s happening with his character in the present?
Even so, the characters will still feel likable because Araki spends a lot of time presenting them to us, and honestly, you do end up growing attached to them.
Conclusion
My conclusion after these first 24 chapters is that The JoJoLands has enormous potential and has already started very well. The MacGuffin is being used effectively, the world’s rules make sense (at least so far), and the Hawaiian style and atmosphere fit well, feeling fresh and unique within the franchise.
The part is gradually increasing its level of tension through everything it has built in the early chapters, and that is something to be appreciated. The plot is driven by the characters' actions rather than the other way around. The villain is solid so far and proactive. If the themes were refined and the flashback moments improved, we might be looking at the best JoJo’s part yet.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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